Sam Maloof and His HL Connection
Sandra1813
Sad news. Famed wood craftsman Sam Maloof has passed away at age 93.
Who? You may ask. Well, I think Gillian (or was it Donna?) once
mentioned on ATH that he was the inspiration for the character of
David Keogh in the third-season episode "The Obsession." Keogh was an
Immortal woodworker who handmade furniture, especially rocking chairs.
Maloof's handmade furniture--his signature piece was a rocking chair--
resides in museums and in the White House. His rocker is beautiful and
looks so comfortable. See for yourself at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Maloof
RIP, Sam Maloof.
Regards,
--Sandra
AMc
wrote:
> Sad news. Famed wood craftsman Sam Maloof has passed away at age 93.
> Who? You may ask. Well, I think Gillian (or was it Donna?) once
> mentioned on ATH that he was the inspiration for the character of
> David Keogh in the third-season episode "The Obsession." Keogh was an
> Immortal woodworker who handmade furniture, especially rocking chairs.
Didn't know (or at least remember) the HL connection. Thanks, Sandra.
> Maloof's handmade furniture--his signature piece was a rocking chair--
> resides in museums and in the White House. His rocker is beautiful and
> looks so comfortable.
The L.A. Times had a long obit for him, I think on Saturday. Had some
photos of a couple of rocking chairs, a really cool spiral staircase &
some other samples of his work. Beautiful stuff.
Alicia
Sandra1813
Thanks, Alicia, for mentioning the LA Times obit. It was much more
informative than the Associated Press one published in my local
newspaper, and its photos were, indeed, beautiful. I'm from the NYC
area, and I'm very surprised to say that the NY Times (the newspaper
of record) hasn't published, in print or online, any mention of
Maloof's death. Thanks, again. --Sandra
AMc
wrote:
> Thanks, Alicia, for mentioning the LA Times obit. It was much more
> informative than the Associated Press one published in my local
> newspaper, and its photos were, indeed, beautiful. I'm from the NYC
> area, and I'm very surprised to say that the NY Times (the newspaper
> of record) hasn't published, in print or online, any mention of
> Maloof's death. Thanks, again. --Sandra- Hide quoted text -
You're very welcome.
Google his name under "images" & you'll find more photos of his work.
Also, someone did a really cool combo rocker/cradle inspired by
Maloof's style.
Alicia
LizaS
His gorgeous custom home is a couple miles north of us, and we were
petsitting for his next door neighbor this weekend. We saw leaving
flowers...and more appropriately drought-tolerant plants...at his
gate. They have tours of the home and a museum on-site, and the entry
price goes to a local charity for orphaned & troubled kids. He was
the type of man who would meet someone and remember them forever, even
in his older years.....not a dark character like David at all<G>, but
very positive and generous! Last year he donated one of his tables to
the scholarship telethon at Reggie's school and they raised $25,000
with it.
He had a decades-long backlog of furniture orders, but had trained a
couple wonderful artisans to create his styles....but now alas an
original Maloof piece will REALLY be out of our budget. I've admired
many of them in local homes, buildings and public places here for
years and really hoped to find an undetected one at a local estate
sale. But his style and materials are SO unique, nobody would ever
mistake it for an old castoff!
Gillian
Maloof, and indeed the character of David Keogh was informed by my
musings on how wonderful it would be if an artisan like him had
centuries to perfect his craft. Of course the prop we were able to
afford for the episode does not reflect this but you can use your
imagination. :-D
I have been fortunate to sit in two Maloof chairs -- one courtesy of a
friend who worked in a museum and took me backstage after hours, the
other in the home of a friend, a veteran TV writer who was wise enough
to invest in one decades ago. Like Liza, I never expect to own one
myself.
Although at his age, and with David Keogh's special birthright, no one
could have expected Sam Maloof to live forever, it is truly a shame to
lose him.
Gillian